Val d'Isere Apres Ski Report: 6th April 2012

There wasn’t a cloud in the sky as I headed up the Tommeuse chairlift around lunch time and as we approached the top I could see the crowds had already convened around the bowl just off-piste below where the Edelweiss run commences.

There were a good hundred plus people there already even though it was still early on in the day and the BBQ was just getting started so I got comfy, ready to watch the action unfold.

The Step-Up around which the event is based is a jump where the landing is higher than the take off. So although you need a lot of speed on take off, the landing is quite gentle…that is, along as you had enough speed and didn’t slam into the side! Luckily not many people did and with no serious injuries; a few scrapes and grazes but nothing that these gnarly riders couldn’t handle.

The jump was bigger than ever but there were plenty of hardy souls ready to risk life and limb for the day's event and there were lots of oohs and aahs (and a few arghs!) as the spectators got into watching the 30 plus skiers and boarders who stepped-up to the challenge.

In a short while the BBQ was cranking and people started queuing up to get stuck in. For a bargain €10 there was a good choice of drinks, salads as well as burgers, sausages and the like on the grill. Also included was a raffle ticket for the evening event with many fabulous prizes on offer.

There was such a good turn out over €2200 was raised and it goes towards two charities. Riders Aid provides help to countries in Africa including Ethiopia, Mozambique, Malawi, Libya and Kenya. The funds raised provide Biosand filters which are constructed out of local, natural materials. They provide households with clean and safe water for all one’s needs by filtering one litre of local water per minute and removing bacteria and viruses which can be fatal. The filters cost €100 each which is a small amount considering they save so many lives.

The second charity the event supports is Disability Sports UK who help make snow sports available to all, another worthy cause especially for those of us who take being able to participate in snow sports for granted.

After a great day on the hill, the event moved into town at the V Spot bar. There was live music as well as the much anticipated raffle offering prizes from local clothing brands Planks, 2 Monkeys and Remote. On top of that local establishments Blue Note, Saloon, Dicks Tea Bar, Le Petit Danois, The Moris Bar, Pacific Bar, The Fall Line and Bananas all contributed great prizes including gift vouchers, bottles of wine and the like. Surefoot, the ski-boot fitters offered an orthotic voucher, Pamper Off -Piste and Progression both gave massage vouchers, Valoptic gave goggles and FlyVIP gave the big prize of a parapente. So there were some great prizes up for grabs and everyone was stoked with their winnings.

Music was provided by DJ Cowtippa with hip-hop and funky beats and there was a good dance session going off by the end of the night.

So, all in all, it was a great event with great causes so a big thank you to everyone who turned up, either during the day or night (or both!) and of course, a massive thank you and congratulations to all the organisers who continue to make this event bigger and better every year; I’m already looking forward to next years.

Well, that’s it from me for this week, stay safe, have fun and TTFN.